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Founded originally in 1998 as “The Nijo Centre”, a non-profit registered in England, but based in Mexico, Centro Nijo is a dream of our founder, Aldo Fogazza. First conceptualized as a place to provide residential space and medical treatment for children and the elderly—traditionally the most disenfranchised in society—Centro Nijo has grown to be much more, while still hoping to someday realize this particular dream. In 2002, Centro Nijo was incorporated as a non-profit in Oaxaca, Mexico with a wide-ranging charter based around our core values of Healing, Community, Culture, and Ecology. We are currently operating a healing space for treating patients of all ages, offering courses in massage and reiki, and community classes for youth and adults. Both Spanish and English speakers ask us, what is “nijo” exactly? Our name, Centro “Nijo” (The Nijo Centre), comes from the contraction of two Spanish words, “niño” and “viejo”, which mean “child” and “old one”, respectively. Having been founded on the philosophy of combining the innocence of youth with the wisdom of our ancestors, this principle informs our work and guides all we do. Who are we? The staff of Centro Nijo are a group of people dedicated to our mission of education and healing. We laugh, we work, we teach and study together, we make communal meals of organic food, and we live and pursue our own healing on the 50 acres of the ranch. Centre Staff Founder Aldo has been practicing different forms of healing for almost thirty years. He holds degrees in Advanced Acupuncture, Acupressure, Oriental Massage, Osteopathy, Reflexology, and Master in Reiki. Born in Sicily in 1957, his training in Judo and martial arts led him to begin his study of traditional Chinese medicine at the age of 21. Since then, his work has led him all over the world, treating a wide range of people--from famous musicians like Sting and Jamiroquai to the royal family of Saudi Arabia, to the local people here in El Zapotal. In 1998, in the wake of the devastating hurricane ‘Paulina’, Aldo founded Centro Nijo as a non-profit to serve the local community, with the vision of helping to preserve traditions, and to support the connections between youth and elders. He continues to practice here quietly, incorporating indigenous Mexican and North American shamanic elements into his healing. Aldo is currently acting as the President of the Board of Directors. Centre Coordinator Daughter of the Centre’s founder, Elisa is a healer in her own right. Born and raised in London, UK, she’s studied dance since the age of four, including modern, ballet, tap, and hip-hop. Graduating from the University of London in 2002, she holds a degree in Mathematics, which she puts to use as the Treasurer of Centro Nijo’s Board of Directors. Elisa holds degrees in Reiki levels I and II, and was certified in Oriental Massage through Centro Nijo’s School of Healing Arts in 2004. A student of movement and body mechanics, she currently practices belly dance and is hoping to gain certification to teach yoga. She currently acts as the Centre Coordinator, and as a therapist working in the Consultorio alongside her father. Tradition Keeper An artisan with a background in photojournalism, Claudia is our resident Tradition Keeper. Born in Mexico, she studied photography, marketing and editing, and graduated with a degree in Communications from the Universidad Autonoma de Tamaulipas in 1998. She has worked as a journalist and editor for a number of newspapers and magazines, in addition to producing commercial work for television. Claudia also spent time in political marketing, where she worked on a campaign in the 2000 Mexican elections. After working for the commercial sector for years, she realized that she wanted to do more work with heart, spending her time traveling, making art, and volunteering with non-profits. She currently takes care of hearth and home at Centro Nijo, where she also researches the sacred traditions of Mexico. Web Master Jai arrived at Centro Nijo halfway through a journey of discovery, after leaving the US with a beat-up jeep, vintage trailer, and cat. A writer, artist, and educator with a passion for martial arts and spirituality, Jai graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in New York in 2002, with a degree in Ecology, Religion, and Gender Studies. A self-taught photographer, Jai spent the last two and a half years working for and teaching with Youth in Focus, a photography-based non-profit dedicated to serving urban youth in Seattle, WA. This website, along with Centro Nijo's beautiful new entrance signs, are Jai's legacy to CN. Land Caretakers Board of Directors |
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